LEAF is proud to announce its 2024-2025 Board of Directors and welcome 3 new members: Lisa Lifshitz, Sharon Tse, and Yola Ventresca. Learn more about the newest LEAF Directors below.
LEAF would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to departing board members Katherine Rivington, Adriel Weaver, and Helen Klumpp. We’re so grateful that they shared their talents, knowledge, and deep commitment to feminism with us. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.
The LEAF Board has 11 current members:
| Hadiya Roderique | Chair |
| Lisa Lifshitz | Member |
| Koren Lightning | Co-Vice Chair |
| Rebecca Meharchand | Member |
| Kerry Lynn Okita | Member |
| Jessica Prince | Member |
| Alana Robert | Co-Vice Chair |
| Meaghan Ross | Member |
| Sharon Tse | Treasurer |
| Reakash Walters | Member |
| Yola Ventresca | Member |
Lisa Lifshitz
Lisa is a partner in Torkin Manes’ Business Law Group and Chair of its Technology and Privacy & Data Management Groups. She has particular expertise in preparing, negotiating and advising on technology agreements, including cloud computing, AI, fintech and blockchain contracts. Lisa also practises in the areas of privacy/cybersecurity, advising on trans-border data transfers, breach management and CASL compliance.
Lisa has earned numerous accolades and rankings with Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, LEXPERT, The Best Lawyers in Canada, Who’s Who Legal (as a Global Elite Thought Leader) and LEXPERT/ American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Lisa is a well-known author and speaker, contributing to such publications as Business Law Today. She is the co-author of Cloud 3.0 – Drafting and Negotiating Effective Cloud Computing Agreements (May 2019). Lisa is currently the Content Officer and Chair of the Content Board of the Business Law Section (BLS) of the ABA and is Co-Chair of the BLS Robotics and AI Subcommittee, Cyberspace Committee and a member of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Technology and Information Systems. Lisa is an Ambassador for ITechLaw and also a Director/past President of the Canadian Technology Law Association and is the Co-Chair of its Privacy/Cybersecurity Committee. She is also a past-director of Cross-Roads International.
Sharon Tse
Sharon Tse holds a designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and is a Senior Manager in the Accounting Advisory Services group of BDO Canada LLP, specializing in assisting not-for-profit and public sector clients. An underlying theme in her professional career has been an unwavering commitment to upholding the quality and ethical standards of the accounting profession. She has spent over 25 years in various facets of public accounting (assurance, professional standards) and in the regulatory side of the profession. Sharon had previously served as Treasurer at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and is currently a member of LEAF’s Finance and Audit Committee.
Yola Ventresca
Yola Ventresca is the Managing Partner at Lerners LLP, practicing in London Ontario. She received her B.A. (Honours) from Huron University College, her LL.B. from Western University and her LL.M. from the University of Toronto. She was called to the bar of Ontario in 2006.
Ms. Ventresca is engaged in a diverse litigation based practice. She is a member of the firm’s education, health law, and labour and employment practice groups. To this end, Ms. Ventresca has represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario. Ms. Ventresca is also the founder and chair of the firm’s workplace investigation team. In this capacity, she is called upon to investigate highly complex and contentious matters arising from conflicts in the workplace, both unionized and non-unionized.
Both peers and members of the London community recognize Ms. Ventresca as a leader. Some of her accolades include: Top 20 under 40 award (Business London, 2016), Lexpert Rising Star designation (2017), Inclusion in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (professional regulation) (since 2017) and Best Lawyers in Canada (since 2018). Ms. Ventresca is also a two time awardee of the “Female Trailblazer Award” (Canadian Lawyer). Ms. Ventresca was also recognized by her local Member of Parliament through inclusion in the North London Honour Roll. This honour recognizes Londoners whose actions have inspired others to a build a strong, supportive and inclusive community. Ms. Ventresca’s inclusion on this list reflects, among other things, her significant advocacy to support, mentor, sponsor and retain women in private practice.
